(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, lifted a beach water contact advisory Thursday for Station 7A (Long Beach). Water samples at this station show the area has attained acceptable bacteria levels.

A beach water contact advisory was issued for Station 10 (Gulfport Central Beach). Six other advisories remain in effect.

An advisory is lifted for:

Station 7A — Long Beach — the extent is from Oak Garden Ave. east to Girard Ave.

An advisory is issued for:

Station 10 — Gulfport Central Beach — the extent is from Alfonso Dr. east to Arkansas Ave.

Advisories remain in effect for:

Station 1 — Lakeshore Beach — the extent is from the Silver Slipper Casino east to Pointset Ave.
Station 2 — Buccaneer State Park Beach — near State Park Road in Waveland — the extent is 100 yards from the sign in each direction.
Station 9 — Gulfport Harbor Beach — the extent is from 20th Ave. east to Thornton Ave.
Station 11 — Gulfport East Beach — the extent is from Tegarden Ave. east to Anniston Ave.
Station 15 — Shearwater Beach (Ocean Springs) — the extent is from Weeks Bayou east to Ashley.
Station 19 — Pascagoula Beach West — the extent is from Oliver east to Westwood.

These segments of beach are not closed; however, there may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in these areas. When water samples show that levels are safe for human contact, the advisories will be lifted.

Swimmers are reminded that the Beach Task Force has a standing recommendation that swimming not occur during or within 24 hours of a significant rainfall event.

More information about the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program and the location of beach sampling stations is available at: http://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/beaches.

To receive beach advisories directly, fill out a contact form at http://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/beaches/contact.html for inclusion in a public group email list, text “MDEQbeach” to 95577, or follow MDEQ on Twitter: @MDEQ.

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